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By JOHN W. GONZALEZ
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry's office announced today that San Antonio officials have agreed to take another 25,000 refugees at the request of Louisiana, but officials in the Alamo City said that's a statewide number and San Antonio would be taking some, not all, of the total.
San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said the first evacuees likely will be housed beginning late tonight in the Joe Freeman Coliseum, an infrequently used venue with air-conditioning. The site is the former home of the annual stock show, which now resides in the nearby SBC Center.
Hardberger said the state may provide temporary air-conditioning units to make the coliseum's outbuildings suitable for housing.
"When you really think about it, it's very heartbreaking,'' Hardberger said
"Most of them have lost their homes, the great majority of their clothes and some of them have been hurt," he said. "We want to reach out our arms and take our fair share. That's what I told Gov. Perry: 'You allocate them and we'll make sure they're taken care of.' ''
Perry spokesman Robert Black said the decision to take in 25,000 more evacuees was made after consulting with San Antonio and Bexar County officials. He said many logistics remain to be worked out.
"We don't know when. We don't know where. We're working that out right now," Black said.
The 25,000 refugees would be in addition to the 25,000 that Texas already has agreed to house at the Astrodome in Houston.
Texas is also going to share its oil-spill expertise.
The Texas General Land Office's oil spill response team is heading to Louisiana at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard, according to land office spokesman Jim Suydam.
Suydam said the team of 16 people is headed to Zeffer Field in Kenner. He said they have with them three air boats, four other boats and a bird rehabilitation truck. Suydam said the team has not yet received its assignment.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3334824
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry's office announced today that San Antonio officials have agreed to take another 25,000 refugees at the request of Louisiana, but officials in the Alamo City said that's a statewide number and San Antonio would be taking some, not all, of the total.
San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said the first evacuees likely will be housed beginning late tonight in the Joe Freeman Coliseum, an infrequently used venue with air-conditioning. The site is the former home of the annual stock show, which now resides in the nearby SBC Center.
Hardberger said the state may provide temporary air-conditioning units to make the coliseum's outbuildings suitable for housing.
"When you really think about it, it's very heartbreaking,'' Hardberger said
"Most of them have lost their homes, the great majority of their clothes and some of them have been hurt," he said. "We want to reach out our arms and take our fair share. That's what I told Gov. Perry: 'You allocate them and we'll make sure they're taken care of.' ''
Perry spokesman Robert Black said the decision to take in 25,000 more evacuees was made after consulting with San Antonio and Bexar County officials. He said many logistics remain to be worked out.
"We don't know when. We don't know where. We're working that out right now," Black said.
The 25,000 refugees would be in addition to the 25,000 that Texas already has agreed to house at the Astrodome in Houston.
Texas is also going to share its oil-spill expertise.
The Texas General Land Office's oil spill response team is heading to Louisiana at the request of the U.S. Coast Guard, according to land office spokesman Jim Suydam.
Suydam said the team of 16 people is headed to Zeffer Field in Kenner. He said they have with them three air boats, four other boats and a bird rehabilitation truck. Suydam said the team has not yet received its assignment.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3334824